Liquid Oxygen Rebreather Dräger
Model Simbal
When oxygen production facilities increased in numbers during the 1914 – 1920 period in Germany, it became likely these techniques would be used for developing new models of Breathing apparatus. Based on this information Draeger developped in 1920/1923 the Draeger Draegerolith. This unit was equipped with one metal spiral that contains the liquid oxygen. The ambient heat evaporates the liquid oxygen. This unit was for logistic reasons not accepted, despite the cold breathing air (oxygen). Because the physiological characteristics of these units were liked, draeger continued to develop units like Simbal and LOX 120. The counterlung, scrubber and oxygenreservoir were mounted in a glassfiber shell. Unfortunately the principle use of these rebreathers encountered problems, since before use the units had to be filled with liquid oxygen a unpractical problem in mining industry. The liquid oxygen breathing apparatus have been made in small numbers for that reason.
There is a dedicated webpage on the technique of liquid oxygen rebreatheres HERE and HERE
De hieronder weergegeven afbeeldingen zijn met toestemming gepubliceerd en zijn afkomstig van de website Gasmasksrule en fantastisch online museum met een collectie maskers en dus ook zuurstof rebreathers!
According to the Gasmasksrule website this unit was in use in Australia at Broken Hill Mines in NSW
Jarrot, thank you for your kind permission!
Please check Jarrot’s great website here: https://www.gasmasksrule.org/
Therebreathersite was founded by Jan Willem Bech in 1999. After a diving career of many years, he decided to start technical diving in 1999. He immediately noticed that at that time there was almost no website that contained the history of closed breathing systems. The start for the website led to a huge collection that offered about 1,300 pages of information until 2019. In 2019, a fresh start was made with the website now freely available online for everyone. Therebreathersite is a source of information for divers, researchers, technicians and students. I hope you enjoy browsing the content!